Sinker release method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fishing apparatus attachable to and moveable along a fishing line so as to provide a recoverable sinker release that is operative when retrieving a catch. A fishing line with a swivel connecting a leader and bait or lure is threaded through two concentric, interlocking, cylindrically shaped members, the inner one of which is provided with an attaching means for carrying various sized sinkers. The concentric members are locked together in use by a spring extending through an opening in the inner member to rest against said swivel. As a catch is retrieved, the outer concentric member contacts the tip of a fishing rod or pole and disengages said spring from contact with the swivel, thereby permitting said catch to be retrieved.

United States Patent Cullen 51 May 2,1972

[54] SINKER RELEASE METHOD AND APPARATUS Robert E. Cullen, 15806Presswick Lane, Bowie, Md. 20715 [221 Filed: Jan. 29, 1971 21 Appl.No.:111,056

[72] Inventor:

52 us. c1 ..43/44.aa, 43/4491 Primary ExaminerSamuel Koren AssistantExaminer-Daniel L. Leach Attorney-Jess Joseph Smith, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A fishing apparatus attachable to and moveable along afishing line so as to provide a recoverable sinker release that isoperative when retrieving a catch. A fishing line with a swivelconnecting a leader and bait or lure is threaded through two concentric,interlocking, cylindrically shaped members, the inner one of which isprovided with an attaching means for carrying various sized sinkers. Theconcentric members are locked together in use by a spring extendingthrough an opening in the inner member to rest against said swivel. As acatch is retrieved, the outer concentric member contacts the tip of afishing rod or pole .and disengages said spring from contact with theswivel, thereby permitting said catch to be retrieved.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMY 2 I972 INVENTOR ROBERT E. CULLENBY W J 3/. i A NEY BACKGROUND & SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a fishing method and apparatus particularly useful introlling where the bait or lure is placed at the end of the fishing lineand spaced some distance from the sinker. More particularly, thisinvention is concerned with a retrievable sinker release apparatusattachable to and usable on fishing lines to promote control of the lineand capture of the fish.

Trolling is a term used to describe a technique of fishing in which thebait or lure is towed through the water behind a moving boat. Such atechnique is frequently employed where large bodies of water are to befished and is particularly successful for game fishing. Generally, asinker is attached to the fishing line to place the bait or lure at adesired depth with the size of the sinker varying in relation to thetrolling speed and desired depth. A heavier sinker is generally used fora relatively fast trolling speed and/or a greater depth. Inasmuch asthere is a relatively great amount of leader between the sinker and thelure or bait it is only possible to retrieve, or reel in, the line untilthe sinker strikes the tip of the pole or rod thereby preventing theconvenient retrieving of the remainder of the fishing line or leader andthe catch. The fisherman would then have to manually haul the fish in,thereby exerting extra energy, unnecessarily consuming time, possiblylosing the fish, entangling his leader where it has fallen to the deck.It is to this aspect of trolling or fishing that the instant inventionis directed, that is, a method and apparatus for providing a retrievablesinker or weight release that permits the fisherman to readily adjustthe size of the sinker, the length of leader between sinker and the baitor lure, and to enable the fisherman to release such sinker whenretrieving a catch with the apparatus sliding along the fishing line tothe catch and thereby enabling the fisherman to conveniently retrievehis catch and his sinker by reeling in the entire length of the fishingline including the leader.

Various other type sinker or weight releases have been constructed butnone seem to be as effective, simple in use, or as inexpensive as hereindescribed. One type such device is used by threading the fishing linethrough the sinker itself with a short section of light-bulb chainjoining the fishing line with the leader at the location where theweight is locked into engagement with the fishing line by means of apivoted sprocket that meshes with the chain thereby holding the fishingline and weight together. When a fish is hooked, the pivoted sprocketreleases the chain and the weight slides along the line to the bait. Oneobvious disadvantage of such device is that the weight is often releasedprematurely when any object, including the bottom, hits the bait.Another disadvantage is the necessity to cut the fishing line tore-thread it through a heavier weight or when changing leader. Anothersuch device is that shown in US. Pat. No. 2,654,177. The principaldisadvantage of this device is that the weight is prematurely releasedby an unintended jerk of the pole. Other disadvantages include theinability to use varying size weights and the dependence upon africtional engagement between the fishing line and the weight without apositive lock between the two.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a methodand apparatus useful in trolling or fishing to enable a fisherman tosecure a sinker on his line some distance from the bait or lure and torelease said sinker when retrieving the catch thereby enabling thefisherman to reel his catch and the sinker into his boat or otherplatform.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel fishing lineattachment that readily permits the use and exchange of varying sized orlengths of leader.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fishing devicethat permits the rapid exchange or replacement of varying sized sinkersor weights.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fishing lineattachment that is useful for catching all types of fish and j is usefulwith all types of fishing techniques including casting,

spinning, and trolling.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fishing apparatusthat is so designed as to provide for a damping or a force-absorbing orbypass means so that a tender-mouthed fish will not be pulling againstthe entire weight of the sinker and thereby have the hook jerked fromits tender mouth.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fishing lineattachment that is simple in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, andeffective in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The exact nature of this invention as wellas other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent fromconsideration of the following specification, relating to the annexeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the fishing apparatus of the invention showing thesinker release in the water as used when trolling.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention with sinker attached.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 2 showing the sinker release in the unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 2 showing the sinker release in the locked position.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of thepreferred embodiment showing the sinker release in the locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings,wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 the sinkerrelease 10 of the instant invention being used by trolling in water W.Fishing line 11 emanates from rod or pole l2 and through eye 13 in theend of said pole 12. The line 11 then is threaded through release 10 andonto the bait or lure 14. That section of fishing line 11 from therelease 10 to the bait 14 is referred to as leader 15. It should benoted that any minimum or discharged suitable fishing line 11 may beemployed and such fishing line 11 or leader 15 may be of any desiredlength, weight, or suitable composition with leader 15 generally beinglonger than approximately 6 to 8 feet.

Suspended down from the lower end of release 10 is the weight or sinker16. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the release 10 places the sinkerclose to the bottom of the body of water with the bait l4 flowingbackward therefrom and likewise along the bottom. Although FIG. 1 showsthe bait l4 slightly below release 10, the lure or bait 14 might beoscillating or gently and randomly floating in the water above, below,or at the same depth as release 10 depending upon the hydrodynamic shapethat the bait 14 presents to the medium through which it is travelling,water W. Likewise, the trolling speed afiects the depth, sinker weight,etc., as aforementioned. There are other techniques in trolling, forexample, by exchanging the relative positions of the release 10 and lure14 as they are shown in FIG. 1, but that arrangement does not permit thefisherman to effectively fish as close to the bottom as the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 1. Further, the other arrangement would tend todrag the weight along the bottom thereby frightening the fish away fromthe area.

There is shown in FIG. 2 a perspective view of the sinker release 10having an outer cylindrical member 21 and an inner cylindrical member 22that slides within said outer member 21. Each of the members 21 and 22has flared ends 23 and 24 respectively, so that the line 11 will not becut or worn by rubbing or binding thereagainst. Outer member 21 isprovided with a cut-out 25 for receiving V-shaped spring 26 that isfixedly attached to inner member 22 along its lower end as shown in FIG.2, or at 27. Inner member 22 is provided with a cut-out 28 so thatspring 26 may fit therein and thereby partially reduce the innerdiameter of such inner member 22. Sinker 16 is suspended from the lowerend of inner member 22 by means of a snap swivel 17 or other suitableattaching means for rapidly changing weights.

In use, line 11 is threaded through outer and inner members 21 and 22.Joining line 11 and leader 15 is the swivel 29. Swivel 29 may be anytype of connecting and swivelling member and may be provided with a snapor other quick release means to facilitate changing to various diameteror length leader, bait, and/or lures. It is frequently desirable toemploy a leader 15 of 40 feet or greater in length. Outer and innermembers 21 and 22 are then moved relative to each other by graspingflares 23 and 24 and pulling apart. Spring 26 is then forced down intocut-out 28 by means of its engagement with outer member 21 at point 31thereby efiectively reducing the diameter of inner member 22 andpreventing swivel 29 from passing therethrough, as will be more easilyunderstood after consideration of, FIGS. 3 and 4. Stops 32 keepthemembers 21 and 22 from being pulled apart when spring 26 is beingactuated. The fishingapparatus is then placed in the water where sinkerrelease is supported by the .V- shaped spring 26 riding against swivel29. When it is desired to reel in the catch, the sinker release 10continues to ride on swivel 29 until the eye 13 of pole or rod 12contacts flange 23, with continued reeling-in disengaging spring 26 andpermitting release 10 with attached weight 16 to slide to the end ofleader thereby permitting the fisherman to land his catch.

There is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 longitudinal cross-sections of weightrelease 10 showing the relative position of outer and inner members 21and 22 in the unlocked position in FIG. 3 and the locked position inFIG. 4. Itcan be seen from FIG. 3 that swivel 29 easily. passes throughinner member 22 as the line is being threaded. When the swivel 29 passesspring 26, it is desirable to lock the sinker release 10 by grasping theflanges 23 and 24, as aforesaid, and thereby locking the sinker releaseas shown in FIG. 4. It can easily be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that, bypulling the ends of members 21 and 22, and sliding them relative to eachother the V-shaped portion of spring 26 is forced down into cut-out 28as spring 26 slides along point 31 of the outer member 21. Thus, theinner diameter of inner member 22 is greatly reduced sothat swivel 29cannot now slide therethrough. In use, the V-shaped portionof spring a26 rests upon swivel 29 thereby-insuring that releaselfl, and weight 16that is carried by release 10, remains at its desired position, that is,where swivel 19 joins line 11 with leader 15. When it is desired toretrieve the catch, line 11 is reeled in until flange 23 contacts eye13. At this point, further reeling in of line 11 acts to move the innermember 22 toward eye 13. This can be easily seen from FIG. 4fwhereswivel 29 is shown engaged by the V-shaped portion of spring 26 andunable to travel closer to eye 13. As the inner member moves toward eye13 as line 11 is reeled-in, spring 26 moves out of cut-out 28 therebyallowing the sinker release 10 to fall past swivel 29 and along line 11to bait 14, thereby permitting the catch to be retrieved along with thesinker.

.There is shown in FIG. 5 an alternative form or modification of thepreferred embodiment of the instant invention wherein sinker release 50is composed of outer and inner cylindrically shaped members 51 and 52which are each provided with flanges 53 and 54, respectively, and sinker16 is attached to inner member 52. Cut-outs 55 and 58 are provided inmembers 51 and 52 with cut-out 58 providing for the receipt of spring 56as the two members 51 and 52 are moved relative to each other and withone end of spring 56 engaging flange 61 of outer member 51 and the otherend of spring 56 being attached to inner member 52 at point 57. In thelocked position shown, swivel 29 is unable to pass completely throughinner member 51, thereby supporting the sinker release 50 until thedevice is unlocked as hereinabove described with respect to thepreferred embodiment.

It should be pointed out that the sinker release of this invention maybe constructed of any suitable material including metals and plastics.Likewise, it should be pointed out that the method and apparatus of thisinvention may be practiced using various fishing techniques other thantrolling and that it may be employed at any desired depth in salt orfresh water. When both the preferred embodiment and the modification arein use, as best shown in FIG. 1, it will be noted that a jerk, strike,or pull at the bait 14, or by a tender-mouthed fish, will have theeffect of straightening the line 11 and the leader 15. That is, the neteffect of such a jerk, strike, or pull is to move the weight 16 ofrelease 10 toward the surface of water W, thereby providing a damping orforce-absorbing means so that the tender-mouthed fish will not have thehook jerked from its mouth as it might if it were pulling directlyagainst the mass of weight 16 and release 10.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only preferred embodiments of the invention andthat numerousmodifications or alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of recovering a releasable sinker when retrieving a catch,comprising the steps of:

threading a line from a fishing rod and through two concentric membersthe inner one of which is provided with an attaching means for carryingvarious sized sinkers, said line having connecting means for attaching aleader to said line;

locking said concentric members together by releasable line holdingmeans attached to the inner member and in such a manner as to preventsaid connecting means from passing therethrough;

reeling in said line and sinker until the outer member contacts the tipof said fishing rod and thereby unlocking said inner and outer membersand releasing said line holding means thereby permitting said sinker totravel to the end of said leader and thereby permitting said catch andsinker to be retrieved. 1 I

2. The method of recovering a releasable sinker according to claim 1,and further comprising that the step of locking includes:

moving said members relative to one another along their common axis insuch a manner that they are held in frictional engagement.

3. A fishing apparatus attachable to and moveable along a fishing lineso as to provide a recoverable sinker release that is operative whenretrieving a catch, comprising;

a hollow inner member for receiving a fishing line, said fishing linebeing threaded from a rod and through said inner member, said linehaving connecting means for attaching a leader to said line;

a hollow outer member spaced concentrically with respect to said innermember;

means attached to said inner member for carrying various sized sinkers,and;

means attached to said inner member for releasably locking said membersand including means for preventing said connecting means from passingthrough said inner member whereby said apparatus is supported by saidconnecting means and said locking means is unlocked upon contact withsaid rod when reeling-in said catch thereby permitting recovery of saidapparatus and said catch.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, and further comprising that:

said locking means comprises a spring attached to said inner member,said locking means being actuated manually by frictional contact withsaid outer member and being released by contact of said outer memberwith said rod as said line is being retrieved.

5. A device for recovering a releasable sinker when retrieving a catch,comprising:

an outer member;

an inner member disposed concentrically with respect to said outermember; I

means attached to said inner member for carrying various sized weights;

means for releasably locking said members in a relatively fixedrelationship, and;

means secured to said inner member for releasably maintaining saiddevice at a relatively fixed distance from a lure carried on a fishingline threaded through said inner member whereby said means for lockingand said means secured to the inner member are released when said catchis retrieved and said outer member engages a rod tip thereby permittingsaid sinker to slide to said catch and be retrieved therewith.

6. The device according to claim 5, that:

said means for releasably locking said members in a relatively fixedposition comprises a spring attached to said inner member, said springlocking and unlocking said members by relative movement of said members.

7. The device according to claim 6 and further comprising that:

said inner member contains an orifice;

said spring is forced into and out of said orifice upon relativemovement of said members, said spring providing frictional engagementwith said fishing line when in said locking position and thereby formingsaid maintaining means.

8. A fishing apparatus attachable to and moveable along a fishing lineso as to provide a recoverable sinker release that is operative whenretrieving a catch, comprising:

an inner member for receiving a fishing line;

an outer member spaced concentrically with respect to said inner member;

means connected to said inner member for sized weights, and;

means for locking and unlocking said members upon relaand furthercomprising carrying various tive movement between said members andincluding a releasable line holding means attached to the inner memberwhereby said members may be locked at a predetermined distance from alure carried by said fishing line and may be unlocked by relativemovement of said members upon retrieving said catch as said apparatuscontacts the tip of a fishing rod thereby permitting said apparatus tobe retrieved along with said catch. 9. The apparatus according to claim8, and further comprising that:

said locking and unlocking means and line holding means comprises aspring attached to said inner member. 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, and further comprising that:

said members are hollow and cylindrical in shape. 11. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, and further comprising that:

said members contain openings, and; said spring protrudes through saidopenings and into said inner member thereby decreasing the diameter ofsaid hollow, inner cylindrical member in such a manner as to maintainsaid apparatus at said predetennined distance from said lure. 12. Theapparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising that:

said members have flared ends so line from being cut thereon. 13. Theapparatus according to claim 9, and further comas to prevent saidfishing prising that:

said spring includes means for stopping relative movement between saidmembers.

1. A method of recovering a releasable sinker when retrieving a catch,comprising the steps of: threading a line from a fishing rod and throughtwo concentric members the inner one of which is provided with anattaching means for carrying various sized sinkers, said line havingconnecting means for attaching a leader to said line; locking saidconcentric members together by releasable line holding means attached tothe inner member and in such a manner as to prevent said connectingmeans from passing therethrough; reeling in said line and sinker untilthe outer member contacts the tip of said fishing rod and therebyunlocking said inner and outer members and releasing said line holdingmeans thereby permitting said sinker to travel to the end of said leaderand thereby permitting said catch and sinker to be retrieved.
 2. Themethod of recovering a releasable sinker according to claim 1, andfurther comprising that the step of locking includes: moving saidmembers relative to one another along their common axis in such a mannerthat they are held in frictional engagement.
 3. A fishing apparatusattachable to and moveable along a Fishing line so as to provide arecoverable sinker release that is operative when retrieving a catch,comprising: a hollow inner member for receiving a fishing line, saidfishing line being threaded from a rod and through said inner member,said line having connecting means for attaching a leader to said line; ahollow outer member spaced concentrically with respect to said innermember; means attached to said inner member for carrying various sizedsinkers, and; means attached to said inner member for releasably lockingsaid members and including means for preventing said connecting meansfrom passing through said inner member whereby said apparatus issupported by said connecting means and said locking means is unlockedupon contact with said rod when reeling-in said catch thereby permittingrecovery of said apparatus and said catch.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,and further comprising that: said locking means comprises a springattached to said inner member, said locking means being actuatedmanually by frictional contact with said outer member and being releasedby contact of said outer member with said rod as said line is beingretrieved.
 5. A device for recovering a releasable sinker whenretrieving a catch, comprising: an outer member; an inner memberdisposed concentrically with respect to said outer member; meansattached to said inner member for carrying various sized weights; meansfor releasably locking said members in a relatively fixed relationship,and; means secured to said inner member for releasably maintaining saiddevice at a relatively fixed distance from a lure carried on a fishingline threaded through said inner member whereby said means for lockingand said means secured to the inner member are released when said catchis retrieved and said outer member engages a rod tip thereby permittingsaid sinker to slide to said catch and be retrieved therewith.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 5, and further comprising that: said means forreleasably locking said members in a relatively fixed position comprisesa spring attached to said inner member, said spring locking andunlocking said members by relative movement of said members.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 6 and further comprising that: said innermember contains an orifice; said spring is forced into and out of saidorifice upon relative movement of said members, said spring providingfrictional engagement with said fishing line when in said lockingposition and thereby forming said maintaining means.
 8. A fishingapparatus attachable to and moveable along a fishing line so as toprovide a recoverable sinker release that is operative when retrieving acatch, comprising: an inner member for receiving a fishing line; anouter member spaced concentrically with respect to said inner member;means connected to said inner member for carrying various sized weights,and; means for locking and unlocking said members upon relative movementbetween said members and including a releasable line holding meansattached to the inner member whereby said members may be locked at apredetermined distance from a lure carried by said fishing line and maybe unlocked by relative movement of said members upon retrieving saidcatch as said apparatus contacts the tip of a fishing rod therebypermitting said apparatus to be retrieved along with said catch.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising that: saidlocking and unlocking means and line holding means comprises a springattached to said inner member.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9,and further comprising that: said members are hollow and cylindrical inshape.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, and further comprisingthat: said members contain openings, and; said spring protrudes throughsaid openings and into said inner member thereby decreasing the diameterof said hollow, inner cylindrical member in Such a manner as to maintainsaid apparatus at said predetermined distance from said lure.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising that: saidmembers have flared ends so as to prevent said fishing line from beingcut thereon.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 9, and furthercomprising that: said spring includes means for stopping relativemovement between said members.